Hartbauer, Manfred, Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr.rer.nat.

Sustainable control of invasive insect pests, such as the fruit fly Drosophila suzukii and invasive stink bug species:

• Development of sustainable biocides against invasive fruit flies (Droso_Ex spin-off fellowship)
• Mechanical system for stink bug control in orchards (FFG, Kiras project 'Wanzendrohne')
• Development of a botanical oil emulsion based on linseed oil for the control of gregarious locusts (Lino_Ex project)

Bionic algorithms inspired by insects:

• Camera image denoising algorithm for low light photography
• Night vision algorithm (aws funded 'Mammobee' project)
• Optical collision avoidance (FFG Take-off project 'BioKollAvoid')

We invented an effective biocide against the Asian fruit fly Drosophila suzukii. It is easy to apply, cheap and sustainable.

Project Biocide was funded by the aws Austria and recently we received a spin-off fellowship project for this biocide (Droso_Ex).

In the FFG Kiras funded project "Wanzendrohne", an innovative sensor network for pest monitoring of invasive bugs triggers a ground robot for mechanical pest control. Some bug species reflexively drop to the ground when exposed to strong substrate vibrations. In our bug control system, a flight drone will broadcast loud sound signals that startles the bugs. Then, the ground drone collects them.

We recorded neuronal activity from collision detector neurons of locusts to develop an optical collision avoidance device that can make drone flights safer.

Project: BioKollAvoid funded by the FFG (Take-off funding)

A first prototype was developed in cooperation with FH Joanneum, Fraunhofer Institute Graz, Drone rescue systmes Inc.